Light Is More Important Than Diet

When it comes to our health goals, such as weight loss, muscle growth, high energy, good sleep, and longevity, we often prioritise diet and exercise. However, what if I told you that the role of light in our lives is more important?

Let's be clear: diet and exercise are still important and should not be overlooked. But it's also essential to understand that neglecting your light environment can significantly impede your progress towards achieving your health goals. ‘Junk light’ is the new junk food…

In today's world, many of us fall short on receiving adequate sunlight while being bombarded with artificial junk light from devices like phones, computers, TVs, and LEDs. This junk light fuelled environment drives chaos in our bodies, which is essentially another word for inflammation.

The average american has access to over 10 tech devices in their household.

Circadian rhythm run the body’s machinery

Our internal body clocks, also known as circadian rhythms, govern the release of hormones and other signaling molecules in our bodies. Proper synchronisation of these rhythms is critical to feeling energised, aiding digestion, experiencing hunger, and achieving restful sleep at the right times.

The light we expose ourselves to and the timing of our meals act as external cues that help regulate our body's sense of time. Naturally, sunlight would be the main driver of this process. However, something like watching TV late at night without protective measures and indulging in a late-night snack signals to our bodies that it's still daytime and that alertness is required. This is a completely natural response when it comes to being outside during the day which requires a natural stress response to trigger higher alertness and focus. But over time, this can contribute to a range of long-term health issues, even if one's diet and exercise routines are spot on. And this is just one of the mechanisms of how junk light can impact us.

These health concerns may manifest as weight gain, procrastination, insomnia, persistent morning fatigue, hormonal imbalances, digestive problems, and, in severe cases, cancer.

Thankfully, we can mitigate these issues by taking steps such as reducing exposure to artificial light, using blue light-blocking glasses, incorporating red lightbulbs, and spending more time outdoors during daylight hours. These practices not only benefit health but also enhance overall well-being.

Diet and exercise is not enough to thrive in the modern world

Sunset in Koh Tao, Thailand. You bet I put my blue light blocking glasses on and put red screen filters on my devices once the sun had set!

Consider this: Are you genuinely satisfied with your current state of health? If the answer is no, and you're struggling to find a solution, perhaps exploring the impact of light in your life could yield significant benefits.

While it's common to emphasise a healthy diet and regular exercise as the cornerstones of optimal health, taking a step back to assess our disconnection from nature, our sedentary indoor lifestyles, our heavy reliance on technology, and the constant overstimulation from these devices reveals why we find ourselves in this health predicament.

Why haven't you heard more about the importance of light in health?

Because it’s relatively new science, just like how all your tech devices and LEDs have only been around for the last 15 years. We are playing god with mother nature and it has a biological cost on us.

History tends to repeat itself, looking at smoking as an example which was considered healthy and harmless and even doctors recommended it in the 1950’s - that ended well!

At the time of this article, I have read around 400 articles about light & circadian rhythm and the more I dive into the research, the more I am convinced that this is something that should be taken very, very seriously.

If you’re interested in optimising your health through not only diet and exercise, but also addressing light, sleep and circadian rhythms then please feel free to book a free discovery call or reach out for a chat.